ABC News Should Fire Brian Ross, And Other Notes On Being Terrible

There are 12 people dead and 50 injured at a movie theater in Colorado, including a baby. It’s not as though you can’t look into a suspect’s history after a massacre and report things as they’re confirmed. That’s what the media should do! What the media, and every idiot on the Twitter, should not do, is first seek out a narrow angle that probably has nothing to do with crazy people going crazy — say, “what political party is this insane person in?” — and then get it wrong out of pure laziness. This matters. Let’s shame some people. First up: ABC News should fire Brian Ross.

George Stephanopoulos: I want to go to Brian Ross here, because Brian you’ve been investigating the background of Jim Holmes and you found something that might be significant….

Brian Ross: There’s a Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colorado, page on the Colorado Tea Party site as well, talking about him joining the Tea Party last year. Now, we don’t know if this is the same Jim Holmes. But it’s Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colorado.

Jesus fucking Christ on a hotplate. Brian Ross and his BLOTTER INVESTIGATIVE TEAM googled for a few minutes and didn’t bother trying to confirm anything and wow, huh, look at that, he was wrong.

Editor’s Note: An earlier ABC News broadcast report suggested that a Jim Holmes of a Colorado Tea Party organization might be the suspect, but that report was incorrect. ABC News and Brian Ross apologize for the mistake, and for disseminating that information before it was properly vetted.

Tea Party people on the Internet are furious over this, and they have every right to be, because it’s an egregious, early error that will color the impressions of people no matter how frequently or aggressively it’s retracted. Can Brian Ross! Put him in the goddamn street. He is constantly wrong, at reporting on national television.

Breitbart.com has been busy hammering ABC News all morning, but not so much that it didn’t have time to post its own typically shitty false reporting as well. We’d call for a firing at Breitbart.com, but it is wrong about every story, and so… they get away with it? Ha ha, incentives. EXCLUSIVE:

James Holmes, the suspect arrested in connection with the mass shootings at a screening of the new Batman movie early this morning in Aurora, CO, could be a registered Democrat, according to documents obtained by Breitbart News.

Uh huh. [*Checks wrist watch for a few seconds*]

Update (12:49 EDT): Newly-released information on the suspect’s birthdate (which, as indicated in our initial report, was a slight mismatch), combined with new details Breitbart News has obtained about the suspect’s likely addresses, together suggest that the suspect may, in fact, not have been registered to vote.

The dumbest member of Congress also has some thoughts. We’d rather not get into it.

Our condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Aurora, Colorado.

About the author

Jim Newell is Wonkette's beloved Capitol Hill Typing Demon. He joined Wonkette.com in 2007, left for some other dumb job in 2010, and proudly returned in 2012 as our "Senior Editor at Large." He lives in Washington and also writes for things such as The Guardian, the Manchester paper of liberals.

"This just in to Breitbart News: Black actor black Will Smith was blackily involved in a black on white shooting in white Colorado movie theatre…"

http://gratuity.wordpress.com/ Gratuitous World

or Brian Ross

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

"Famed painter Bob&sup1; Ross gunned down dozens of people in a movie theatre last night.

&sup1; possible slight mismatch"

MrsConclusion

Maybe it was! We'll never know.

Barrelhse

Everyone knew him as "Nancy."

noodlesalad

Could have been worse – he could have suggested that the events of the day suggested a need for America to re-examine its death fetish with guns.

Condolences to all victims of gun violence.

BaldarTFlagass

Chrissakes, the guy is obviously a nutcase. No one ever talks about whether Charles Whitman was a Democrat or a Republican.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

In fairness, a lot of mileage came out of Giffords shooting, but then she was a poltician, so Loughner's political positions had validity in the case

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

Whtiman wasn't a member of any particular political party. More of a sampler.

mookwrthwilson

I would say he was nuts…but he was actually full of nuts…and some of that cherry sugary goo…

Rosie_Scenario

And had a brain tumor, or is that an urban myth?

BaldarTFlagass

Not a myth.

b[redact]opple

There was a rumor
about a tumor
nestled at the base of his brain.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

Time to dig out the Harry Chapin. Sniper and other Love Songs has more to say about this than we'll hear from anyone else today.

NellCote71

Wow. Good recall.

Puffperney

Yes, he had a brain tumor. He left a note, here's Wiki's summary: "…He requested that an autopsy be done after his death, to determine if there had been anything to explain his actions and increasing headaches

grex1949

No, but his name is rarely mentioned without the descriptive term "ex-Marine".

http://www.kalimao.blogspot.com MittBorg

You've been away for a long time, my friend.

bibliotequetress

Balder, I think that back when Whitman did his thing, it wasn't particularly relevant. I think that an argument could be made that the political stance of a mass murderer in the US since 1990 has become relevant. I think it started in earnest with the first anti-abortion violence, although we could go back to violent attacks based on race or religion for the birth of this.

I heard on NPR this morning, 12 people dead, 30+ injured, not a single reload.

AbandonHope

Jesus. I guess it's a really good thing I opted to forego NPR this morning and listened to an uplifting album (Eels' "Tomorrow Morning") instead, because that shit would've destroyed my good mood. I mean, not that my good mood means jack shit compared to all those poor people… just that… I think I'm just going to stop listening to the news ever. It's apparently really dangerous to my mental health.

http://krisbunda.com/blog/index.php Designer_Rants

Also, I could've been mistaken. I heard that on Tom Ashbrooke's show this morning. Now doing a Google, some stories say the guy was reloading, some say he was emptying guns and throwing them down and getting new guns. enough bullets to injure or kill 71 people, anyway.

CommieLibunatic

Their obvious answer for EVERYTHING, you mean. Medicine is too expensive? MOAR DAKKA

Jus_Wonderin

However, like my dog, they will probably eat it right back up. "Mmmm. Warm food!"

Mittens Howell, III

Now that you mention it, vomiting and re-eating sounds like a pundit job description.

Jus_Wonderin

Ah. Then there is possible employment for my dogs. All they do is lay around all day and listen to NPR.

AbandonHope

I agree. I've been trying to get my dogs to pull their own weight for a while. Maybe I should stop feeding and watering them so they'll pull themselves up by their own… um… pawstraps.

Newly-released information on the suspect’s birthdate (which, as indicated in our initial report, was a slight mismatch)

Um. Yea. Cuz fact-checking demands you put the story out with such a glaring "mismatch"

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

Hey, for once, zombie Breitbart did some fact checking, even if it was after the fact. I'm just waiting for them to nail Holmes for hugging Sherrod Brown.

pdiddycornchips

ABC should fire Brian Ross along with the producers and editors who green lighted his on air report. They have to decide, do they want to compete with the Breitbart/Drudge's of the universe on getting things first or do they want to compete on competence. This shit show proves they can't do both.

Callyson

Aaaand I am reminded once again of why I hardly ever watch TV news anymore.

My sympathies with those who are impacted by this senseless violence.

HalluxValgus

Dear internet- if you have a "take" other than just being very sad, you are wrong. Just be sad, for like a minute. Then we can talk about your tea party or your second amendment or your aspiring sportscaster or whatever else bullshit. For now- sad.

the end

ChernobylSoup

I agree. But we have to consider how the UN and those Denver bike paths might be involved, because they totally were.

AbandonHope

I don't know, "fucking angry" works pretty well too.

http://Wonkette.com MLHencken

The only thing reporter Brian Ross is capable of "scooping" is dogshit off of the sidewalk.

Dildeaux

Look, Dild despises the tbaggers as much as anyone. And the victimization crowd will have a field day with this goof, but frankly, Ross should lose his job, even if he qualified his statements. He was unprofessional, uninformed and useless. Leave the speculation to us professional left bleggers. You, Ross, are supposed to report reality. Nut up.

pdiddycornchips

Brian Ross is only the first step. Where's the accountability for the higher ups who decide what to put on the air? I have a hard time believing no one at ABC News knew what Mr. Ross was going to say.

BloviateMe

This kind of thing used to be humiliating, and a career destroyer. Now, it's barely surprising.

TribecaMike

In other news, the Supreme Court has ruled against the Affordable Care Act.

MissTaken

CNN Breaking News:

Colorado Shooting Suspect J. Holmes Could Be Famous Pornstar Who, According To Wikipedia, Died In 1988

BaldarTFlagass

My, that's a big gun.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

It's the perfect cover, and explains why he was so well equipped.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

Wadd the fuck???

metamarcisf

If Batman had been allowed to carry a gun, this tragedy may be been averted.

CommieLibunatic

Naturally, the page where he tells Robin how they'll practice breaking, disarming, and even throwing firearms evades me when I could use it most.

SexySmurf

If those people didn't want their deaths to be politicized then they shouldn't have gotten shot.

Antispandex

It's times like this I am glad to be somewhere that allows you to carry a gun if you want to. For reals. This would be a real surprise here…for the shooter, when all of the other patrons pulled their iron and dropped him.

noodlesalad

Yes, because the only thing that would have made this chaotic, dark, tear gas-filled theater safe would have been more bullets. Give me a fucking break.

More likely drop twelve other innocent kids trying to get away. When has that fantasy scenario you describe ever actually happened? Never.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

I dunno. He led off with tear gas canisters.

I haven't fired too many weapons in my day, but I suspect that gagging and tears welling in my eyes might make aiming and returning fire with accuracy a bit suspect.

redarmyzombie

Oh, believe me, it's hard enough WITHOUT problems! Now, I will admit I am in no way a marksman to begin with, but I suspect the same is true of most people in this country.

keinsignal

Colorado *is* somewhere that allows you to carry a gun if you want to.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

Yes, a free fire zone in a dark theater full of smoke would not have increased the loss of life at all.

That being said, I have no problems with people being licensed to carry assuming they have had training in the use and safety of their weapon.

Oblios_Cap

I don't see how any more people would have been hit if everybody was armed, standing in a ring around the shooter, and aimed carefully in the dark, chaotic theater. Most people are great marksman, so every bullet that the circular firing squad let off would have surely only hit the perp.

Antispandex

Well, most people who carry, here, are ex-military, so I was assuming a similar skill set to mine. If I wasn't good under fire, there would be no Mr. Antispandex. However, I can't blame most people, who are afraid of guns, to understand that alot of us can be trusted with guns and ammo…and to do the right thing, even under preasure.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

Hang on, there's like 300 million guns in the country. I'm not sure that many are owned by ex-military

IceCreamEmpress

Are you somehow missing that Colorado is a concealed carry permit state where it is really easy to get a ccp?

sullivanst

"Shall issue" state.

GeorgiaBurning

I appreciate that there are well-trained and reasonable people who could have limited the damage done by this twerp, and their carrying weapons never bothers me. But there are not a lot of these guys. My own weapons training was enough to hit a stationary target and keep me from shooting myself or friendly folks. In a situation like this I'd be ducking like everyone else. I hope I'd remember to leave the weapon behind when I ran out of the theater into a crowd of cops.

mavenmaven

Apparently there were military among the dead. And some of us disagreeing with you have military backgrounds.

Because America won't be completely safe till there's a gun in every mouth.

Oblios_Cap

Golly Gee, Mr. Antispanks! You are obviously a man's man. I, too, was in the service, but, sadly, am now an Oldz.

I don't trust you or your fiucking "skill set" as much as you seem to think that I should. I'd hate to be in a crowded theater when I found out that I was right.

IceCreamEmpress

I think every military unit on Earth except maybe the 101st Fighting Keyboarders would have training that advised against opening fire in a crowded, smoke-filled theater full of confused potential victims trying to get out or get to cover, yes?

Dashboard Buddha

It's funny you mention this. I've been having a similar discussion with my nephew on FB. He's all ready to go to urban combat classes, btw. (nice kid, but serious knee jerk there). One of his friend posted this trenchant comment:

"I have guns and consider myself decently trained (not an LEO or anything) but I don't think I would've been able to effectively single out one guy in a dark room of hundreds, with gas, a loud movie, screams and people running all over the place. if someone breaks in my house, I know who is supposed to he here and who isn't, in a public place things get confusing and chaotic."

Damn straight!! My piece keeps a lid on all the fucking chatter in movie theaters, too!

pdiddycornchips

This is a fairly common response. "If I was there with my gun, I would have taken this dude out". Not very likely. First, assuming you're a responsible gun owner, why would you take your gun with you to a midnight movie of Batman? If you did take your gun, can you really be considered "responsible'? Shit like this is an anomaly. You're more likely to get killed by grizzly than to encounter a crazed gunmen in a movie theater. Unless you're planning on setting bear traps along your commute route, please leave your gun at home when you go to the movies.

didgen

I believe that I am going to extend you the courtesy of believing that you have simply not thought that through well.

Dildeaux

You will not be warmly recieved, since your opinions are pure shit.

Dark theatre. Smoke. Patrons with guns. This aint my America.

Antispandex

I sure didn't mean to upset everyone so much. I guess the correct answer was probably' " Damn, I guess the best thing to do is just dive on the floor and cower whilst hoping to not get shot…dead", but I'm not a pacifist leftist. I don't believe "I have a dream" does as much good as "by any means necessary".

miss_grundy

Not even "probably". Unless you were wearing a full oxygen mask, your eyes would be tearing, which means you wouldn't be able to see well, in a darkened, smoke-filled auditorium. You would have severely wounded or killed innocent strangers, just like the doofus who committed this crime. Playing cowboy at the OK Corral is not the answer.

actually as an over educated effete urban artist, i would totally dive on the floor.

probably whimper too.

but i actually understand your point. i just can't imagine the logistics (effete urban artist, etc.)

miss_grundy

That would have been hard to do in a smoke-filled, darkened theater. More people would have died and would have been injured. Frankly, I'm tired of the whole cowboy mythology.

keinsignal

While we're puncturing this fantasy scenario, I should point out that the shooter apparently *expected* there to be other people there with guns, as he was wearing body armor. So even if some gun owner had brought their gun to a crowded theater, and was able to successfully unholster and aim it in the midst of the chaos and smoke, even *then* he might not have been able to stop the guy.

noodlesalad

Your facts, they are useless on this one, my friend.

Antispandex

I'll just say this one last thing on the subject. It is perfectly fine if you are a coward. It is an absolutely legitimate survival strategy. However, I believe this is what is wrong with the so called "left" in this country. If it comes to a fight, you are nowhere to be found. We used to face down bullets with brickbats, but when I was in the service of this country (and not as a keyboard commando, but where they shot at you), I was really lonely looking for people who shared my political views. We used to say stuff like, "By any means necessary". Not any more, I guess.

redarmyzombie

Okay, I've been holding my tongue this entire time to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you know what? Fuck you, shithead. Fuck you and the self righteous high horse you rode in on. It's people like you who give gun owners a bad name in these parts. And yes, I've fired guns, I plan to own them (with a permit to carry them) and the only thing holding me back are financial considerations. I also happen to be a martial artist, with knowledge of how to kill a man with my bare fists. I pray, pray, pray to god I will NEVER have to use one or the other, but that is a matter strictly outside of my hands.

And in regards to this whole tragedy, this was in Colorado, where there effectively is no real bar to packing heat, and the lunatic who planned this a) chose a spot with relatively high density in terms of patronage, b) set off canisters of tear gas in a dark room with a loud action movie blaring, and c) was wearing Kevlar body armour, tactical camouflage, and a gas mask to give him unobscured vision. So why don't you chew on THAT for a bit the next time you open your flap.

Oh, and once again: fuck you, you slimy piece of shit.

Antispandex

WOW! You've fired a gun! Yeah! Have you ever defended anyone else , besides yourself? That IS what "martial artists" like you do, right? I can tell by your intelligent discourse that you were probably "ex-military" too, right? No, didn't think so. You are the type of coward I'm talking about, and you are a liar without honor. Sure you can pretend to be Jet Li, from behind your keyboard, but when it comes to risking something we won't be able to find you. Not enough money for a gun? What are you 12? You aren't a "martial artist " you are a foul mouthed, chest thumping, wannabe. I HAVE defended my country, and by extention, you, so you could sit there at your computer and pretend to be what you aren't and call me names because I refuse to be a coward like you. You're welcome.

redarmyzombie

Well, let's see: You a) made an astoundingly ignorant comment about a horrific tragedy, b) showed callous disregard for people who were wounded and lost their lives, and c) continued spouting ignorance in order to defend your original, and still wrong, comment. Oh, and rather than actually address the points that were raised you resorted to passive-aggressive ad hominem attacks against an entire segment of society, in lieu of attempting to rationally explain your position or admitting that maybe, just maybe, you spoke a little hastily. And no, Mr. spandex, I'm not a liar; you only wish I were because in your eyes that would somehow magically validate your ignorant, and still wrong, position.

So no, shithead, you're the one masturbating to your overinflated ego here, and you're acting like a petulant child throwing a tantrum because no one wants to play Cowboys and Indians in your little fantasy dreamland.

Oh, and next time, try not projecting onto other people when you try to insult them, because I'm not Jet Li, or John Wayne, or Chuck Norris, or whatever piece of movie fiction you wish you were. So once again, fuck you and the self-righteous high horse you rode in on.

Have a nice day.

P.S. And when you do try and play hero in a shopping mall, do try not to get anyone else killed in your narcissistic fantasy.

Antispandex

The point you will never understand, and perhaps are not capable of understanding, is that there is risk to self defense, but there is no advantage to passivity. If you act in a dangerous situation to try to stop aggression, you and others MAY die. If you do nothing, you, and others, will SURELY die. It isn't that I haven't thought this out, it is that I have seen it in practice. It isn't my fantasy to have seen people killed in combat. I wish it were. I won't sit still and have anyone shoot at me without try to stop them. I did think of the fact this guy was wearing body armor. Have you ever seen someone with body armor get hit? It isn't like a video game. It still hurts, can break bones, can be momentarily disabling, giving you a *chance*. Yes, I admit, it's only a chance, but sitting there, or lying there, and getting shot along with others isn't how I would chose to deal with it. If it is how you would deal with it, it is probably best that you don't try to help anyone or even yourself. Just don't judge people so harshly if they don't care to join you.

redarmyzombie

Once again, I spoke in extreme haste and passion, and it was wrong of me; for that I apologize.

And I understand the point you were trying to make. Body armor may stop the bullet, but it doesn't stop the momentum of an object traveling faster than the speed of sound, I get that too. But I also accept that the conditions in the attack would have made it more likely that someone else would have gotten hurt instead. Unfortunately, sometimes the best course of action is to do nothing. As bitter as that may sound, involvement has as much potential to do harm as it does to do good, and at the end of the day, That is how I base my decisions: will my actions do good, or will they do harm instead? Whatever the outcome, I must live with the decisions I make, for better or for worse. That is my position, and that is the way I think.

And once again, it was wrong of me to judge you as harshly as I did, and I apologize.

redarmyzombie

Ok…after having a moments contemplation, I would like to apologize for my earlier comments. It was not only wrong of me to insult you, it was juvenile, and for that I am sorry. I will confess, I have a terrible temper when my wrath is invoked, and I should have known better than to react in the way I did.

As for my earlier reply to you, I will also admit it was wrong for me to say what I said there as well. I won't delete it, the reason being that those were my words, and deleting them would feel disingenuous to me. I said that, and for that I am sorry. It was wrong of me.

I don't expect you to accept my apology; I do not say that to be passive-aggressive and snide, but because what I said was hurtful and unwarranted. I will say I made those comments in the heat of passion, but that still does not excuse what I said.

For the record, I really, truly, do sincerely hope that you enjoy your day, and I am sorry for what I said.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

"By any means necessary" implies there's a meaning to be gained by dying.

Standing up in a chaotic movie theatre and firing blindly seems to have no meaning to me.

Oblios_Cap

It does if you're some chickenhawk asshat. I was always taught that discretion is the better part of valor. in fact, in the service they trained us to try to get away first and only fight in this sort of setting if there no other recourse.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

One of the victims was also at another theatre shooting earlier this year in Ontario, Canada.

I take your point. She was miraculously spared being the victim of one shooting spree only to be the victim in another. As if this whole business wasn't depressing enough.

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/hamsterpantsworld Hammiepants

These fucking assholes. All they can think to do is scramble to capitalize politically on a freaking massacre of innocents. They all ought to be horsewhipped. You can't appeal to their sense of shame, they're missing a freaking humanity gene.

bumfug

As soon as I heard about this I got pissed because this is the exact same shit that drives me nuts when the insane-right media (looking at you, WND) does it. Fuckin'-A fire him.

ColHeightsChic

Dear F*cktard Gohmert: Please leave my Hebrew brethren out of this! I'd appreciate it if you drop all reference to my people from your batshit crazy "Judeo-Christian" rants. Amen.

AbandonHope

Remember, "Judeo-Christian" means "Evangelical Christian, plus we need those filthy Christ-killers to bring about the End of Days".

Still, can anyone argue that this isn't Barack Obama's fault? Or was inspired by the plank in the Democratic platform calling for the "Massacre of anything related to Bain/Bane"?

OzoneTom

Is it even possible to libel the Tea Party?

sharethegrief

Bravo!

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

No, not really.

Guppy

It is if you work for Disney!

http://www.vinoverve.com Maman

Well, it sure as hell doesn't help that Rush Limbaugh already described the movie as a liberal plot. I have to admit that it was my first thought that some ditto head was shooting up the theater to protect the nation.

Wadisay

No doubt Mitt Romney is thinking maybe this is a pretty good time to release his tax returns.

grex1949

I was expecting that to happen at the end of the day today, anyway.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

I always hate events like this. Nothing else on the news but the same few facts over and over again. There should be a requirement that everyone hold their breath for 24 hours until people can actually digest all the information. Then we should let the ridiculous political charges fly, like always.

The Breitbart article was clearly trying to make a point about how irresponsible it is to put out information about a suspect without fully checking the facts and, though I hate to say this, they were right. There are enough cases in which the folks at Breitbart were actually being dicks that you didn't need to manufacture this one.

Oblios_Cap

I think you're giving them too much credit for having the ability to actually "make a point".

pdiddycornchips

Yeah fuck that. Breitbart had no problem posting every bullshit, selectively edited video and outright lie from his rent boy O'Keefe. They don't mind bullshit if it's in service to their agenda.

pdiddycornchips

Okay, why was my comment deleted by the administrator? We're going to pretend Breitbart is a respectable news source now?

redarmyzombie

Nah, more likely it was a glitch in the Matrix.

IceCreamEmpress

So they then did the same thing as Brian Ross as a joke? Are you fucking kidding me? None of those assclowns have a sense of humor.

Dildeaux

Then breitbrats turn around and do the same fucking thing. No need to defend them.

http://wonkette.com/ weejee

FUCK the NRA.

none asterisk, sorry policed readers

Guppy

Nah, the tear gas, et al, seems a bit outside their purview. Smells more like GOA.

Goonemeritus

I think this could become a teachable moment if we as a nation were teachable. Sadly we are not.

Not_So_Much

Louis fucking Gohmert — I got nothing.

BaldarTFlagass

I guess it's probably too soon to ask whether the movie is any good.

miss_grundy

The movie is awesome. I just got back from the theater a little while ago. It is a great end to Nolan's trilogy. I hope all of you, who want to see it, have the chance this weekend.

Barrelhse

Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, ….

http://inappropriatejobpostings.blogspot.com/ fuflans

supposed to be but it's never going to have to worry about that.

sadly.

mookwrthwilson

Hey Breitbart…keep fucking that chicken…

Mittens Howell, III

I'm sure they checked for the suspect's political records before considering their mental health records.

SayItWithWookies

Glenn Dreck handled Brian Ross' outrageous allegation the proper way this morning — by saying, "If anything, the shooter would be an Occupy person, because those are the protesters in the movie." Proving that there is no instance of egregious laziness that can't be made worse by egregious utter stupidity.

And my condolences to the victims and their families. And sorry that you have to experience all the idiots jumping on their various hobbyhorses before anyone knows anything.

KeepFnThatChicken

What happened to his alleged murder victim's body again?

SayItWithWookies

The one he's never denied raping and murdering in the 1990s? I can't remember — shallow grave, dumpster — that sort of thing, probably.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

I thought he dumper her in Puget Sound with his mother.

KeepFnThatChicken

If it was a water dumping, I guess he allegedly defiled her body by having sex with her corpse first…?

The man certainly wins any race to the bottom. …pardon me; I called Beck a 'man'; what I meant to say was "festering bloodfart."

mavenmaven

The release of the killer in Bulgaria from Gitmo was initially widely circulated in the right wing press, until it became clear that Bush released him. Then it became just "liberals" who were responsible.
Same will happen here. And if they find that Holmes read Mein Kampf, they will say that shows he's a socialist.

x111e7thst

Memo to Goobert or whatever his name is: Increasing the number of guns being fired in random directions in a darkened movie theater is unlikely to reduce the number of casualties.

C_R_Eature

Goodness Gracious my grandma used to say
The world's a scary place now,
things were different in her day
What horrors will be commonplace
when my hair starts to gray?

– Kevin Gilbert

Well, now we know.

shelwood46

God, I love that album.

C_R_Eature

Yeah me too, thanks. Another fellow we lost too soon.

freakishlywrong

The whole thing is a fucking disgrace to the nation. We're an embarrassment. And sad. Very, very sad.

JustPixelz

Louis Gohmert is waaaay ahead of ABC news on this.

People say… where was God in all of this? … Was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly?

Exactly! Where was George Zimmerman? Unless this shooting was another of God's plans. Time to amend the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt be packing.

IncenseDebate

If God wanted to take the shooter out he would have. So, God was all for letting it happen. Part of his plan.

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/hamsterpantsworld Hammiepants

I cannot believe that people are saying, "see, if only one person had been armed, this wouldn't have happened!" Yes, because a pitched gun battle between TWO armed dudes would have had a MUCH lower body count! Assclowns.

http://whatisawatthedevolution.blogspot.com imissopus

In a dark, crowded theater where the first gunman had reportedly set off a tear gas canister before he opened fire. Yup, nothing bad could come of that.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

The question is: Why does God hate America so?

Or, why doe s/he hate the unarmed so?

Oblios_Cap

I'm beginning to think that maybe this "God" fellow is somewhat of a prick.

miss_grundy

No, the question is: Why do Americans hate America? Because they love being the laughing stock of the world. No wonder people in other countries think America is filled with cowboys and mobsters: because of our pornographic love of guns.

http://johnnyzhivago.blogspot.com johnnyzhivago

ABC is looking back in it's files now since suspicion is building about Osama Bin Laden of Arabia, Adolf Hitler of Europe and Attila the Hun of Hungary.

http://www.wonkette.com Chill_Bill

No snark here. What a fucked up country we live in.

IncenseDebate

A hard rain is gonna fall.

sullivanst

Seems like hail.

Blunderthing

Let's not talk about the real problem which is TOO MANY FUCKING GUNS IN A NUT CASE NATION. Oops. Was that my common sense voice?

KeepFnThatChicken

I would apologize to humanity on behalf of God, but the belief that he exists probably exacerbated things along the way.

My heart goes out to all fifty people who were harmed directly by this horrible human. People of the world, humans can be basically good, despite current evidence.

mavenmaven

Can you believe this? Breitbart's new headline: "James Holmes Could Be Registered Democrat – UPDATE: Not Registered?"
in other words, "democrat" until proven otherwise, despite the absence of any information.

AbandonHope

I can totally believe it. But I think that we all know that the shooter was allegedly working clandestinely for a cabal consisting of Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Ann Coulter.

I snark because I have to. My brain can't process the concept of a dozen people dying simply because they were so excited to see a new superhero film. What an utterly pointless world.

Generation[redacted]

Maybe he couldn't get to the ID office the 4 days a year when it's open.

danielwalldammit

Whatever it takes! And heaven forbid that anyone call these puddles of pig puss on their shameless bullshit.

http://www.wonkette.com Lionel[redacted]Esq

Come on, the guy dropped out of med school. Clearly this is the result of the Affordable Care Act (cue Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity picking up this thread in 3, 2, 1….)

Generation[redacted]

Brian Ross and his BLOTTER INVESTIGATIVE TEAM

I prefer Wonkette's blotto investigative team.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

"Tomorrow's top story: How alcohol affects blogging"

IncenseDebate

I'm more concerned with how blogging affects alcohol.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

QUIT JUDSHING USH! *hic*

BaldarTFlagass

Blotto was also a pretty cool band.

IncenseDebate

Yes they were!!

http://whatisawatthedevolution.blogspot.com imissopus

Everyone is terrible. Except you, Wonkette. Fuck Brian Ross.

IncenseDebate

Wonkette is my most trusted news source.

anniegetyerfun

Jeez, I can't stand Tea Partiers either, but I generally assume that they are too fat to get out of their houses and shoot a bunch of people.

http://whatisawatthedevolution.blogspot.com imissopus

Or that their fingers are too fat to fit inside the trigger guard.

sullivanst

Hoverounds not an ideal tactical platform.

redarmyzombie

Too fat, and too cowardly.

EDIT: also, weird that my comment comes above the one by imissopus, even though he commented first.

Editrix? Are you taking note of this?

IncenseDebate

It's not violent enough.

AbandonHope

The difference being that ABC News probably made the mistake out of sheer incompetence, whereas Breitbart probably did it on purpose, and then "hastily" "retracted" the "error".

ChernobylSoup

Aurora mayor Steve Hogan seems like a good man; anyone know much about him?

EDIT: Just saying he came across very well in the briefing just now.

CapeClod

I think the Tucson shootings proved that the poltics of the batshit crazy gunman doesn't really have anything to do with how fucked up the are. Obviously, Brian Ross didn't learn that lesson.

TribecaMike

Brian Ross is also reporting that the Higgs boson discovery was just a passing truck.

http://johnnyzhivago.blogspot.com johnnyzhivago

No comment from Sarah Palin yet? America waits.

KeepFnThatChicken

Heard from her grandson. Called his momma a faggot.

StealthMuslin

All involved should be strapped into chairs facing "The Newsroom" on a jumbotron and Ludovico Techniqued until their brains fall out.

elburritodeluxe

Please, Jon Stewart, kick the shit out of this guy metaphorically.

KeepFnThatChicken

Order of operations. Gohmert first, NRA second, reporter third.

DailyGrumbles

A Congresswoman was shot point blank and NO LAWS were passed. STFU about this being "Politicized"

Why the Tribune? Nobody reads that but me and the wife. Our subscription is $2 million for 52 weeks.

sullivanst

"Dewey Defeats Truman"

http://intensedebate.com/people/mrblifil mrblifil

After a lifetime of such stories I can tell you this. Nobody in America gives a crap when someone else is the person being shot. And the next few Colorado politicians from that area and on up the state and federal hierarchy will be elected on the basis of their strong support of 2nd Amendment rights and their love of hunting.

AbandonHope

I'll do you one better: the next few Colorado politicians will probably campaign heavily on the whole "if other people in the theater had been armed the shooter would've been dispatched easily" argument, and win in landslides.

"I propose that all Colorado movie theaters be equipped with plain-clothes Federal Marshalls and ball-turrett gunners in the ceiling!!" (Applause)

johnnymeatworth

Has Michele Bachman blamed any Islamists yet?

labman57

It's a byproduct of the Internet Age — far too many reporters/journalists/bloggers want to beat everyone else to "the story", and hence the tendency to take rumor mill, unverified reports, and wild speculation and present them to the public as the result of "investigative reporting".

Until a thorough investigation has been done, it would be premature to speculate on the motivations of this deranged individual that led to this horrific act.

TribecaMike

According to Wikipedia, "In 2008, Aurora was designated an All-America City by the National Civic League." It sure is.

schvitzatura

The price of movie theater facility security will assuredly be $20 popcorn, $12 high-fructose corn syrup soft drinks, and $30 3D features. AMC, Lowes, and the rest will have "security amenities", as attendance at any future summer blockbuster-type movie is now viewed the same as getting on an airplane following 9/11 for the first few months. Same-day DVD and streaming will eclipse brick-and-mortar attendance; all the stadium seating wonders with THX and cushy seats have become a risk to one's well-being.

Prediction:

The Well-Digger's Daughter will have 1st weekend boffo box office, as disgruntled, testosterone-addled males would never consider this for their swan song rampage of gun-play, right?

AbandonHope

Nah, we'll just get a new "Entertainment Safety Agency," tasked with maintaining the long lines of security we'll have to endure before entering a movie theater.

emmelemm

You'll have to get to the movie theater 2 hours before your showing…

AbandonHope

Actually, if they ran the ads during the screening process, they'd be killing two birds with one bullet.

anniegetyerfun

This is just one more reason for me to argue in favor of waiting to watch movies when they come out on Netflix. Not so much about my life being in peril, as not wanting to be covered on the news by these douchebags SHOULD I be killed.

http://sciencekick.blogspot.com valthemus

But it's network news… being first is SO much cooler than being accurate!

owhatever

Ross has stepped in it one time too many. Fire his scrawny ass. Any professional journalister who tried to "cover" the news by the Internetz is a lazy creep. It ain't the most reliable source for truth. I Google and Tweet, therefore I am.

Dildeaux

Fuck this. Im going back to bed with a fifth of vodka.

proudgrampa

Brian Ross needs to go. He's an idiot.

Jerri

Diane Sawyer (whose face-acting….I mean concerned and compassionate reporting…I am forced to watch at the gym) is going to be fucking insufferable tonight, even with the TV mercifully on mute.

EBGrey

When did people get so f@cking stupid?

An_Outhouse

Its like they're rewarded for it now. The company probably thinks it benefits them because they'll get free mentions via "Brian Ross, incompetent douche bag who works for ABC".

Antispandex

So…dive on the floor and cower. Got it.

noodlesalad

Beats shooting a 6 year-old by mistake, asswipe. If you want to play hero, move to Somalia. This isn't the 19th century anymore.

Antispandex

Any excuse to be gutless. Got it.

redarmyzombie

You know, hate to raise a dead thread back to life, but being petulant doesn't help your argument.

We already have free refills for popcorn and drinks at the movies. I guess we're headed for free reloads of ammo next, amirite? USA,USA!

bobbert

"Will that be the drum magazine, sir?"

ttommyunger

Win!Sent from my iPhone

Veritas78

The only shocking part is that this doesn't happen at least once a week, given our collective firepower and abandonment of the the mentally ill. So actually we're quite self-restrained.

And no one will suggest that we try anything different, just like after the Giffords shooting.

rocktonsam

indeed.

while Cantor, Bohner and Mitten$ head for the bunker. That is where the cash is that the NRA left. pussies and opportunists blood money for blood suckers

redarmyzombie

Fuck, this whole thing is depressing.

Pbizzel

Is there a reason @ABC has not explained why they won't @FireBrianRoss? The media needs to be held accountable for these actions. Reckless actions like these only move to divide Americans from one another. They should be ashamed of themselves. @PBizzel